FBI Tells You Everything You Wanted To Know About Online Frauds But Were Too Afraid To Ask

Bill Singer
, ContributorI am a critic of the inept and ineffectiveOpinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

On May 23, 2012, the Federal Bureau of Investigation posted a consumer bulletin: "Frauds from A To Z." Some of the frauds you may know but many are new scams. If you click through the bullet-points, you are in for an intriguing and eye-opening read.

For starters, are you aware of the anti-aging ripoffs? There's a whole cottage industry of con artists targeting senior citizens and others with claims about rejuvenating creams and all sorts of hokum that supposedly not only stops the clock but may even turn back the hands (yeah, right!).

Did you know that there is a funeral scam? In one case, a couple of years ago, when insurance investigators began poking around, the fraudsters panicked and filled a once-buried coffin with a mannequin and cow parts, hoping to approximate the likely weight of the deceased before his purported remains were sent to a crematory.

As I've been writing on "Street Sweeper" for some time, cyber-criminals are busy. The so-called “Gameover” malware threats are alive and kicking and once your database of usernames and passwords are stolen, it's gameover for you and your bank accounts.

Another tried and true scam that remains popular is the "Grandparent" variety in which older Americans are sent messages -- often citing distress -- from their supposed grandkids. Grandma, I'm being held captive by a drug gang in Mexico and you must wire $100,000. Grandpa, mom and dad don't know that I took the family car and I've had an accident; please send me money for repairs. It sounds sad but it's a fake.

Of course readers of this column know much of the drill. The now infamous Nigerian scams. The trading platform frauds. The Prime Bank Note con.

Have you heard of the "Surrogacy Scam?" In this repugnant crime, couples desperately seeking children are contacted by folks claiming to have babies available via legal surrogacy. Sadly, it's nothing more than a six-figure con game.

Also, beware of those pop-up messages on your computers that warn you of all sorts of threats preparing to attack your computer. This "Scareware" ruse will try to convince you to purchase downloadable software that may do nothing or, worse, may seize control of your computer and ravage its contents.

It's out there and growing, and you should be careful and scared at the same time. They may be lurking on Facebook, eBay, LinkedIn, or Craigslist -- or what you think is a legitimate online business may be nothing more than a fake designed to separate you from your personal information. You may get a heart wrenching plea for a donation on your Google, AOL, or Hotmail email account; or someone may telephone you on your cellphone. They're getting craftier. You're just not as smart or safe as you think you are.

I urge you to take some time and click through the impressive list of frauds amassed by the FBI: